"Francis of Assisi is a great educator of our faith and our praise": this was stated by the Pope, before he introduced the Angelus from Assisi, where he was yesterday for the eight centenary of the Saint’s conversion. From that "City of Peace", said Benedict XVI, "I think it is my duty to make a pressing, heart-felt appeal to put an end to all the armed conflicts that are staining the earth with blood, let arms keep quiet and let hatred give in to love, offence to forgiveness, discord to union, everywhere!" "We feel spiritually close here he added to all those who cry, suffer and die because of the war and its dramatic consequences, anywhere in the world. Our thought goes in particular to the Holy Land, so deeply loved by Saint Francis, to Iraq, to Lebanon, to the whole Middle East". The populations of those countries "have experienced for too long the horrors of fighting, of terrorism, of blind violence, the delusion that force may solve conflict, the refusal to listen to the others’ arguments and do them justice". "Only responsible and sincere dialogue, supported by the generous help of the international community, may put an end concluded the Holy Father to such great pain and give new life and dignity to people, institutions and populations".
